Cutter chain



-April 13, 1948. I L. E. SIMMONS ,4

CUTTER CHAIN Filed Aug. e, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elven/far.-

ZeonEJ'im 7720M A: 4.10m azt April 3, 1948. L. E. S IMMONS 2,439,400

' CUTTER CHAIN Filed Aug. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2

lnvenfor:

, MMM- Patented Apr. 11 194$ CUTTER CHAIN Lean E. Simmons", Claremont, N. 11., assign'o r' te- .Ioy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application Augustxfi, 1943; Serial No. 497,629

10" Claims. (01. 262-33) 1 .This inventien relates to cutter chains and more particularly to improvements in: a mining machine cutter chain having improved means for supporting and holding the cutter bits in ci1t ting position thereon.

In mining machine cutter chains it is exped-ient to provide supporting and holding means which will support and. hold different types of cutter bits on the chain. Under certain conditions, a cutter bit of the small plural pointed type is desirably employed while,- under other conditions, it is desirable to use a standard single pointed shanked bit. It is also desirable interchangeably to sup'port and hold cutter bits of either the small plural pointed or standard single pointed type on a cutter chain without modification of the chain block structure. The provision of such a universal cutter chain not only greatly reduces the cost simplification, but also enables the use of different types of cutter bits without the need of changing thecutter chain on the machine.

object of the present invention is to provide a universal cutter chain adapted to support and hold c'utter bits' of different types. Another object is to provide an improved bit supporting and holding means for a mining machine cutter chain. A further object is to provide an improved supporting and holding means for either a small plural pointed bit or a standard single pointed shank'ed' bit. Yet another object is to provide an improved clamping arrangement adapted to receive and clamp in cutting position either a bit holder for a small plural pointed bit or the shank of a standard single pointed bit. A still further object is to provide an improved adjustable securing device for securing the cutter bits in cutting position on the chain blocks of a mining machine cutter chain. Still another object is to provide an improved bit clamping means embodying relatively adjustable clamping jaws. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however; hereinafter more fully appear;

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a; portionef a mining machine cutter chain constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross" sectional view taken substantially on line 2 -2' of Fig. 1, looking toward the front of the chain block.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinally extending vertical sectional view taken substantially online. 3 -3 of Fig. 2. I i

Fig. at is a horizontal sectional View taken sutstaiitially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. g

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the drawbdlt and clamping jaws, removed from the block.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view' of thefr'on't cramp- Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the rear' cramp: ing jaw.

Fig. 8 is across sec nonar view' takensu staritiall'y on line 83' of Fig'. 3'. V

Fig. 9' is a longitudinally extending vertical sectional View sim to Fig. 3, showirig a stand ard single-pointed shank'ed bit held position between the clamping 10' is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line ill-HI of Fig. 9'.

' Fig. 11 is a longitudinally eiitiidifig' ivftio'ai Sdtidhall' View s'ilriilai to Figs. 3 afid 9; showing ail-Other r'hbdtiifil'elit of the" ihVI'iti'O'I'i.

12- a cross sectional view taken substanmany on line 12-42" of Fig. 113.

Fig. 13 is a perspective VieWOi the fi'biit nciu'er can.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the" rearnomer part. V

Fi 16is a cross sectionaiview taken substantially' on line 15-45 of Fi 15.

1'7 is a Side eievationai' new of the draw? bolt and clamp.

Fig. 18 is" a side elevatiol'ial new of the cutter bit hol'der. g

Fig. 19 is a front end View Of the holder.

In the several embodiments of the invention disclosed herein the improved bit supporting and holdifig means is embodied iii a I'fiiilirl'g" niiiliifiei cutter chain generally of a well known construe-- fiiOn'. The cutter Cliai'h, as shown herein, iffeludes chain blocks I pivotally' connected at 2th strap links 3 andhaving lateral socketed mast. The strap links have lateral gibs' 5 adapted tor reception in the guideway of a conventional out t'er bar; Manifestly, the improved bit supporting:

taken and Holding means may be embodied in cutter chains of other types.

As shown in Figs. 1 to s inclusive", the chain block mes 4 each have a lor'i'g'itudinal bore 6 in which an adjustable drawbolt 1 is rran ed. tending at right'anglesto and openin into the lug bore 6 is a socket 8. The socket 8 is arranged at right angles to the path of travel of the cutter chain, with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drawbolt bore 6. The bottom wall of the lug bore is longitudinally slotted or grooved at 9. Traversing the bolt body is a vertical slot or recess of rectangular cross section, opening into the lug socket 8. Arranged in the lug socket are front and rear holding elements and |2 preferably in the form of clamping jaws. The jaws are generally of L-shape, and the rear clamp is somewhat larger than the front clamp as shown. The bottom portions of these clamps fit into the groove 9 and the -right angle upright portion l3 of the rear clamping jaw extends outwardly through the bolt slot In and lug socket 8, externally of the block lug. The upright portion M of the front clamping jaw projects within and terminates at its upper end in the lug bore at the front of the lug socket. The rear end of the drawbolt 1 has a reduced threaded portion I5 on which is threaded a nut I6, and arranged between this nut and the rear surface of the block lug is a washer As clearly shown 'in' Figs. 6 and 7, the inner adjacent clamping faces of the jaws are serrated at l8. The drawbolt structure may be generally similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 363,907, filed November 1, 1940, now matured into Patent No. 2,365,780, granted December 26, 1944.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is shown a detachable holder for a small plural pointed reversible cutter bit known as a throwaway bit. This holder may be of the same general character as that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 424,423, filed December 26, 1941, now matured into Patent No. 2,394,813, granted February 12, 1946, and comprises front and rear holder parts 20 and 2| respectively having shank portions 22 and 23 received in the block lug socket 8 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The rear holder part 2| has a forwardly facing bit receiving socket 24 for the reception of a small plural pointed cutter bit 25. This cutter bit is of generally T-shape in cross section, and the bit body has a curved rear surface 26 conforming to the bottom wall 21 of the bit receiving socket 24, and has a plane front face 28 of generally elliptical shape terminating in cutting points 29, 29 at the opposite extremities of the bit. The front holder part 20 has a forwardly and outwardly inclined, rearwardly facing abutment surface 30 against which the front bit face 28 rests. When the drawbolt I is tightened, by adjustment of the nut It, the front clamp is drawn toward the rear clamp l3 to move the holder parts 20, 2| together to clamp firmly the cutter bit in cutting position on the chain block. The serrated surfaces |8 on the clamping jaws I and I2 assure firm gripping of the holder parts.

In Figs. 9 and the drawbolt and clamping jaw arrangement is the same as that above described. In this instance, a standard single pointed shanked cutter bit 32 is shown. This cutter bit has a forwardly inclined cutting portion 33 terminating in a cutting point 34, and an integral shank portion 35. The cutter bit shank is of rectangular cross section, as shown in Fig. 10. The holder parts 29 and 2|, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are, of course, at this time removed from the block socket, and the shank 35 of the cutter bit is inserted in the block socket between the clamping jaws and I2. When the drawbolt is tightened, by adjustment of the nut It, the clamping jaws II and I2 are drawn toward one another to clamp the cutter bit,firmly in cutting position on the chain block. Thus, without change in the clamping jaw and drawbolt arrangement, either a holder for a small plural pointed reversible bit or a standard single pointed shanked bit may be secured in cutting position on the chain block without modification of the latter.

In Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, a modified form of holder and clamp structure for a reversible plural pointed bit is shown. In this instance, the separate clamping jaws and and I2 of the embodiment above described are omitted when a holder is used, and when a standard single pointed shanked bit is employed, it is necessary to substitute for the holder parts the clamping jaws shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In this construction, the bit holder includes a front holder part 31 and a rear holder part 38, and these parts respectively have bottom portions 39 and 4|! of rectangular shape which fit into the longitudinal slot 9. These holder parts are arranged in the lug socket 8 and extend through the slot It in the drawbolt 1. Thus in eifect, the clamping jaws, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, of the embodiment above described are formed integral with the front and rear holder parts. The cutter bit is the same as that described above and the holder parts are formed to receive and hold the cutter bit in cutting position in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 3. When the drawbolt is tightened, the cutter bit is 7 held firmly in cutting position on the chain block.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 15 to 19 inclusive, the bit holding means is incapable of securing a standard single pointed bit in position on the block and is designed for use only with a reversible plural pointed bit. In this instance, a chain block lug 42 has a longitudinal bore 43 and the top of the lug is slotted longitudinally at 44 throughout a portion of its length. The lug has a right angle socket 45 entering the bore 43. The upper part of this socket is in eifect a part of the longitudinal slot 44, A rear holder part 46 has a shank 41 received in the lug socket. Arranged in the lug bore is a drawbolt 48 traversed by a slot 49, through which the holder shank 41 extends. A front holder part 50 is formed integralwith this drawbolt and has a a projection 5| extending upwardly through the longitudinal slot 44 and providing a forwardly and outwardly inclined, rearwardly facing abutment surface 52. The plural pointed cutter bit is the same as that of the other embodiments above described. The bit holder has a forwardly opening socket 53 for receiving the cutter bit and the front cutting face of the bit rests against the abutment surface 52 in the manner shown. The holder has a rearward projection 54 which enters the lug bore 43 and the holder rests at 55 on the exterior surface of the block lug, When the drawbolt is tightened the front holder part 5|] is moved rearwardly with respect to the block lug to clamp the cutter bit firmly in the bit receiving socket of the rear holder part and to secure firmly the rear holder part in bit holding position on the block.

As a result of this invention improved supporting and holding means is provided for a mining machine cutter chain whereby cutter bits of dif ferent types may be held in cutting position on the chain blocks. It will further be evident that, in certain embodiments of the invention, by the provision of the relatively adjustable clamping jaws and the drawbolt, either a holder for a small plural-pointed throwaway bit or the shank of a standard single pointed bit may be interohangeably positioned on the block and firmly held in position. It will further be evident that :by the provision of the improved clamping structure the cutter bits may be firmly held in cutting position on :the chain and maybe quickly and easily replaced. Oth'er advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described several embodiments which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments of the same are shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is:

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a bit clamp nc d n relat vely m vab cl mpin jaws mounted on said block between which a cutter bit is r ceiv bl sai bloc havi g a bore ext n s ngitudin lly he eof and a slot extendin longitudinally along the bottom wall of said bore, nd adju t n member ar an ed in said bo e for adjusting said clamp, said jaws respectively having inner portions extending longitudinally of and lying beneath s id adju tin member in said slot, and said adjusting member having surfaces respectively overlying said jaw portions for holding the latter in said slot, and said inner portion ,of one of said jaws, upon adjustment by sa d member, havin s iding u ded en agement with said slot the overlying surface .on said adjusting member having sliding movement relative to said inner portion of said other jaw while maintaining said latter portion in said slot.

2. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and a longitudinally extending slot entering said bore, a bit clamp including relatively movable clamping jaws guided on said block and between which a cutter bit is insertable, one of said jaws having an inner portion extending longitudinally of and guided in said slot, and an adjusting member arranged in said bore for adjusting said clamp to secure the cutter bit firmly in cutting position on the block, said adjusting member having a recess and a surface engaging said jaw portion for holding the latter in said slot, and said jaw portion having sliding guided engagement with said slot during such adjustment while said surface is maintained in engagement with said portion, and said jaw projecting into said recess to hold said adjusting member against rotation in said bore.

3. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bore extending longitudinallythereof and a longitudinally extending slot opening into said bore at the inner side of the latter, a drawbolt reciprocable in said bore and having a transverse opening for receiving bit clamping means, and a plural-part bit clamping means having' shank portions extendin through said drawbolt opening and elongated feet received in said slot, said feet locking under said drawbolt and the latter having surfaces respectively overlying said feet when a bit is held by said clamping means, and said clamping means by engagement of said feet with said slot serving to hold said drawbolt against rotation in said bore.

4. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and a longitudinal slot opening into said bore at th inner side of the latter, a clamp including relatively movable jaw parts mounted on said block and I said foot portions for holding the latter in said having oppositely directed feet received in said slot, aldetachable holder for a reversible pluralpointed cutter bit including relatively movable front .and rear holder parts between which a bit is insertable and which have portions received between said jaw parts, and means on said block for relatively adjusting said jaw parts to clamp firmly said holder parts in bit holding position on said block, the foot on one of said jaw parts having sliding guided engagement with said slot during such adjustment.

5. In :a cutter chain, a chain block having a right angle socket and a bore extending longitudinally of said block, said bore having a slot extending longitudinally along one wall thereof,

a :bit clamp including relatively movable front and rear clamp parts between which a cutter bit is insertable, said rear clamp part received in said socket and said clamp parts respectively having foot portions received in said longitudinal slot, and a drawbolt received in said bore and engaging slot and adjustable to adjust said front clamp part relative to said rear clamp part to tighten the clamp to secure a cutter bit in cutting position on said block, said foot portion of said adjustable front clamp part having sliding guided movement in said slot during such adjustment.

6. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a right angle socket and a guideway extending longitudinally of said block and entering said socket, a bit clamp comprising relatively movable front and rear clamp par-ts between which a cutter bit is insertable, said rear part received in said block socket and said front clamp part having a foot portion received in said guideway and guided for longitudinal adjustment by said guideway, and means for adjusting said front clamp part relative to said rear part to effect clamping of the cutter bit on said block, said adjusting means having a surface engaging said foot portion for holding the latter in guided relation with said guideway, and said foot portion sliding in said guideway during such adjustment while maintained in said guideay y said adjustin means.

7. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a bore extending longitudinally thereof and a longitudinal slot opening into said bore at one side of the latter, an adjusting member arranged in said longitudinal bore and having a recess, and a bit clamp adjustable by said adjusting member and including front and rear clamp parts mounted on said block and between which a cutter bit is insertable, and said rear clamp part having a portion extending into said slot and said rear clamp part projecting into said recess in said adjusting member to hold said adjusting member against rotation in said bore, and said front part being guided for longitudinal adjustment in said slot relative to said rear part, said adjusting member engaging said front clamp part for holding the latter in guided relation with said slot, and said front clamp part being movable, upon adjustment thereof by said member, relative to said rear clamp part to clamp the cutter bit on the block, said front clamp part having sliding guided movement in said slot during such adjustment.

8. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a right angle socket and a bore extending longitudinally of the block, an adjusting member received in said longitudinal bore and having a recess traversing its body, and a bit clamp adjustable by said member and comprising relatively movable front and rear clamp parts each being of L-shape and between which a cutter bit is insert- 7 able, one of said clamp parts received in said socket and passing through said recess and having its foot portion extending longitudinally of and underlying said adjusting member, and the latter having a surface overlying said foot portion for locking said clamp part in said socket and said one clamp part holding said adjusting member against rotation in said bore, and said front clamp part being adjustable by said member relative to said rear part to tighten the clamp to clamp the cutter bit on the block.

9. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket and a bore extending longitudinally of the block, an adjusting member received in said longitudinal bore,- and a bit clamp adjustable by said member and comprising relatively movable front and rear clamp parts between which a cutter bit is insertable, said rear clamp part being of L-shape and received in said socket and having its foot portionextending longitudinally of and underlying said adjusting member, and the latter having a surface overlying said foot portion for locking said rear part in said socket with said foot portion held beneath said adjusting member, and

said front clamp part being movable, upon adjustment thereof by said member, relative to said rear part to tighten the clamp for clamping the cutter bit on the block.

10. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a socket and a bore extending longitudinally of the block, an adjusting member received in said longitudinal bore and a bit clamp adjustable by said member and comprising relatively movable front and. rear clamp parts between which a cutter bit is receivable, said rear clamp part received in said socket and one clamp part interlocked with said adjusting member and held against rotation with respect to said block for locking the part by said adjusting member on the block and for holdin said adjusting member against rotation in said bore, and said front clamp part being movable, upon adjustment thereof by said member, relative to said rear part to tighten the clamp for clamping the cutter bit on the block.

. LEON E. SIMMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 4, 1935 

